Does anemia matter? Anemia, morbidity, and mortality in older adults: need for greater recognition.

Anemia is common and under recognized in older adults and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Estimates of prevalence of anemia in older adults vary considerably based on the setting, gender, age and definition used and likely to increase further based on aging trends. Rather than simply a consequence of aging, anemia is a marker of underlying disease, requiring investigation for an etiology. A cause is discernible in at least two-thirds of cases; management involves addressing the underlying disease process, replacement of deficient nutrients or the use of erythropoietic factors.